Demon Hunter, Variant (3.5e Prestige Class)

Demon Hunter

“	I'll show those Demons, what "Hell" really means	”
—Maran, Elven Demon Hunter

Demon Hunters are a Specialization of the Ranger Core Class(DnD Player's Handbook 3.5). Therefore he uses his special abilities to shut down their demonic powers and is able to stand toe to toe with almost every Demon in battle. While they're perfect in Combat against Demons and other evil/chaotic Outsiders, they lag many of the Ranger abilities against other enemys. A Demon Hunter can be a melee or ranged Character, depending on his chosen Combat Style.

Becoming a Demon Hunter

A Demon Hunter is a Ranger who specialized in tracking and hunting Demons. In his mind, Demons are the pure evil and don't deserve to exist in our world.Most of the Demon Hunter suffered from Demons before becoming a Hunter (e.g: losing a beloved person). Guided by their anger,they decided to learn all about their enemy in order to be able to stop them. Demon Hunters accepted that their only Quest is, to defeat these Evil Creatures without mercy.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	Any Good.
Base Attack Bonus:	+5.
Race:	any.
Special:	at least 1 Favored Enemy must be an Outsider(Evil or Chaotic).

Table: The Demon Hunter

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spellcasting
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+2	+0	Strike Demons(2/Day)	+1 Ranger Lvl
2nd	+2	+3	+3	+0	Supressing Strike	+1 Ranger Lvl
3rd	+3	+3	+3	+1	Sense Demons (30ft.)	+1 Ranger Lvl
4th	+4	+4	+4	+1	Strike Demons(3/Day)	+1 Ranger Lvl
5th	+5	+4	+4	+1	Improved combat style; Banish Demons	+1 Ranger Lvl
6th	+6/+1	+5	+5	+2	Restless Hunter	+1 Ranger Lvl
7th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+2	Strike Demons(4/Day)	+1 Ranger Lvl
8th	+8/+3	+6	+6	+2	Sense Demons (100ft.); Evasion	+1 Ranger Lvl
9th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+3	Fearless Hunter	+1 Ranger Lvl
10th	+10+5	+7	+7	+3	Combat style mastery; Improved Supressing Strike; Strike Demons(5/Day)	+1 Ranger Lvl
Class Skills (6 + Int modifier per level) Climb(Str); Concentration(Con); Craft(Int); Handle Animal(Cha); Heal(Wis); Hide(Dex); Jump(Str); Knowledge(Dungeneering)(Int); Knowledge(Geography)(Int); Knowledge(Nature)(Int); Listen(Wis); Move Silently(Dex); Profession(Wis); Ride(Dex); Search(Int); Spot(Wis); Survival(Wis); Swim(Str); Use Rope(Dex).

Class Features

Combat Style Restriction:The Strike Demons and Supressing Strike abilities are restricted to the chosen Combat Style of the Ranger. If the chosen combat style is two-weapon-fighting, the abilities listed above may only be performed with melee weapons. If the chosen combat Style is archery, the abilities listed above may only be performed with ranged weapons within a 40ft. radius.

Strike Demons (Su): At 1st Level the Demon Hunter gains the Strike Demons ability. Twice per day the Demon Hunter concentrates his magic energy to empower his next attack, this amount increases by 1 every 3 levels above 1st (4th;7th;10th). The ability must be called out before attacking. If the attack successfully hits, the Demon Hunter deals additional 1d10 magic damage to the enemy. Even if the attack misses, one charge of Strike Demons is consumed. This ability may only be used against evil/chaotic Outsiders. The weapon used is treated as +1 magical weapon (if not). This ability is Combat Style restricted (CSR).

Supressing Strike (Su): At 2nd Level The Demon Hunter gains the Supressing Strike ability. Once per day the Demon Hunter uses his magic energy to interrupt the connection between an evil/chaotic Outsider and its home plane, from where they receive their Power. To use this ability, the Demon Hunter must successfully hit the target with a touched attack (or ranged touch attack CSR). If successfull, the weapon (or arrow/bolt) temporarily turns into pure Energy and passes through the enemy(dealing no damage), cutting the invisible connection between the enemy and its home Plane. For an amount of rounds equal to the Demon Hunter's level, the affected enemy can't communicate telepathically with his allies, summon other creatures or travel to another plane by itself. If the Demon Hunter misses, he has to wait at least 3 rounds before trying again. Supressing Strike is only consumed if the target was successfully hit. This ability may only be used against evil/chaotic Outsiders. This ability is Combat Style restricted (CSR).

Sense Demons (Su): At 3rd Level the Demon Hunter gains the Sense Demons ability. His knowledge in hunting Demons give the Demon Hunter a +4 circumstance bonus on all Charisma based skill checks against evil/chaotic Outsiders and a +2 bonus on tracking checks (this bonus cumulates with the bonus from Favored Enemy). Furthermore the Demon Hunter can sense the demonic presence of these creatures within 30ft.(100ft at 8th Level). If an evil/chaotic Outsider enters the radius of this sense, the Demon Hunter automaticaly performs a Wisdom check (DC 10+Outsider's HD)(this check may be done hidden by the DM). If multiple Outsiders are located at the same spot, only roll against the highest DC, because powerful Outsiders try to conceal the presence of themselves and their allies. If successful the Demon Hunter gains knowledge according to the Table below. If the Demon Hunter fails this check, the demonic presence stays concealed to him. However, the DM can decide to give the Hunter a hint, by telling him that he has a bad feeling, but can't assure the origin of it.

Knowledge from Sense Demons

DC beaten by	Result
1-5	The Demon Hunter knows the direction, where the Outsider is at the moment.
6-10	The Demon Hunter knows the direction, subtype, exact number of Outsiders and knows the direction, they move(if they do so).
10+	The Demon Hunter knows the exact position, number and kind of the Outsider and can't be suprised or caught flat-footed against these.

Improved combat style (Ex): At 5th Level the Demon Hunter gains the Improved Combat Style ability. This ability is the same as the Improved combat style ability listed in the Ranger class.

Banish Demons (Sp): At 5th Level the Demon Hunter gains the Banish Demons ability. Once per day the Demon Hunter may cast the Banishment spell at his Demon Hunter level only against evil/chaotic Outsiders.

Restless Hunter (Ex): At 6th Level the Demon Hunter gains the Restless Hunter ability. If an evil/chaotic Outsider, once tracked with Sense Demons, escapes from the Demon Hunter, he can decide to remain restless until his enemy is slain. this means the Demon Hunter can travel twice as far as normal per day and doesn't need to rest or eat (he still needs water) up to a maximum of 5 days. If the Demon Hunter is successful his fatigue reaches him and he has to stay in bed for a number of day equal to the amount of days he spent restless. If the Demon Hunter fails after staying 5 days restless, he immediately passes out for 1 day and still has to rest additional 5 days to regenerate his body.

Evasion (Ex): At 8th Level the Demon Hunter gains the Evasion ability. This ability is the same as the Evasion ability listed in the Ranger class.

Fearless Hunter (Ex): At 9th Level the Demon Hunter gains the Fearless Hunter ability. This ability grants the Demon Hunter a +4 circumstacne bonus on saving throws against mind influencing spells or spell-like-abilities, because he is trained to resist them in order to proceed his Quest.

Combat style mastery (Ex): At 10th Level the Demon Hunter gains the Combat Style Mastery ability. This ability is the same as the Combat Style Mastery ability listed in the Ranger class.

Improved Supressing Strike (Su): At 10th Level the Demon Hunter gains the Improved Supressing Strike ability. The Demon Hunters Supressing Strike gets even more powerful and rips the demonic energies out of the enmeies body. Supressing Strike now also restricts the use of all spell-like-abilities for the whole duration. This ability may only be used against evil/chaotic Outsiders.This ability is Combat Style restricted (CSR).

Spellcasting: Every level a Demon Hunter gains Spells and Spells/Day as he would level in the Ranger Class. This means his Demon Hunter level is added to his Ranger level to determine his Casterlevel (e.g.: a 5th Level Ranger and 3rd Level Demon Hunter has access to 2nd-Level-Ranger Spells (like a 8th Level Ranger) and is has a total Casterlevel of 8)

Spells: To cast a particular spell, you must have a Wisdom score of at least 10 + the spell's level. Your bonus spells are based on your Wisdom. Saves to avoid the effects of your spells have a DC of 10 + the spell's level + your Wisdom bonus (if any).

Demon Hunter beyond Level 10

Bonus Feats: The Demon Hunter gains a bonus feat on every 3rd level beyond 10 (13th; 16th; etc.).

Ex-Demon Hunters

If a Demon Hunter's loosing his path (e.g: by changing alignment to a "not-good" one), he instantly looses all Demon Hunter special abilities, except the abilities listed below Sense Demons; he only remains the circumstance bonus on skill checks, because it's based on knowledge and studying Demons. Improved combat style, because it's part of his Ranger training. Evasion, because it's part of his Ranger training. Combat Style Mastery, because it's part of his Ranger training.

An Ex-Demon Hunter may not regain his abilities, even if he fits all requirements.

Campaign Information

Playing a Demon Hunter

A Demon Hunter is guided by his anger and pain. playing a Demon Hunter means to be prepared to fight aginst evil creatures at all time and all costs. He may sacrifice himself in order to protect others from Demons, but never presume him to be reckless or impatient. Once he spotted a target, he wont stop until it's dead, but never rushes as long as the demon doesn't seem to be a threat to innocents.

Combat: A Demon Hunter's place on the battlefield is very dependent of his chosen Combat Style. Melee Hunters prefer to stand in frontline to deal as much damage as possible, while Archery Hunters prefer to stay in background to support their allies with abilities and spells

Advancement: Demon Hunters synergyze well with the Fighter Class

Resources: Demon Hunters may be treated as normal by citzens or even be respected with the right amount of reputation, but they won't fit in urban society and won't settle down, due to their restless and isolated nature.

Demon Hunter Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge(the Planes) can research Demon Hunters to learn more about them, because demon Hunters are strongly involved in events including evil/chaotic Outsiders. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledg (the Planes)

DC	Result
11	Demon Hunters prefer to stay alone and have a lag of loyalty, if that means to let a prey escape.
16	Demon Hunters have a natural sense and connection to the planes, which they manipulate intuitively.
21	Most Demon Hunters have lost a beloved person to Demons before becoming a Hunter (maybe get Information about a specific event related to the Demon Hunter, the Player is researching about, if this event is known and documented by the people).
26	A Demon Hunter gains his power from the anger he's carrying within himself, which connects him also to the evil/chaotic planes. This connection allows him to sense Demons on the same way, they communicate telepathicallly with each other. However, a Demon Hunter is always struggeling, so his anger is not consuming him.

Demon Hunters in the Game

Adaptation: A Demon Hunter, fits in every campaign, containig evil or chaotic Outsiders as enemies. Although he also deals a brief amount of Damage to other creatures, I don't recomment a Demon Hunter in a campaign in which the Players won't ever encounter Demons.

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Classes → Prestige Classes